ABOUT THE DLCC

The Dog Legislation Council of Canada (DLCC) was formed in 2003 by three women who saw a need for responsible dog owners to aid in enacting solid dangerous dog laws and promote responsible ownership across Canada. LeeAnn O'Reilly, Cathy Prothro and Dawne Deeley together founded the DLCC and are active directors in the organization.

We are a not for profit group counting among its members experienced, ethical and responsible dog enthusiasts nationwide.

The DLCC is Canada's first and most unique collaborative efforts of rescue volunteers,
veterinarians, owners, dog trainers, breeders and handlers to promote responsible
ownership of all dogs.

The objectives of the council are two fold:

First is the promotion and support of responsible dog ownership. This includes
child dog safety programs, bite free programs for adults working in proximity
of dogs (police, post office) and working with dog owners one on one.

Second is to encourage and foster the implementation of non-breed specific dangerous
dog by-laws. Non-breed specific dangerous dog by-laws designate dogs as 'dangerous'
based on behaviour rather than breed. These by-laws allow for more efficient animal control without
pointlessly punishing responsible dog owners. They address concerns with dog aggression
and recognize the role of human negligence behind most incidents.

We believe that this provides greater flexibility for municipalities to address
negligent dog owners while not penalizing responsible owners for their personal
choice in breed.

The DLCC supports the implementation and enforcement of zero-tolerance dog licensing, zero-tolerance leash laws, and heavy fines for
non-compliance.

We support financial repercussions for those owners whose dogs, when not in compliance with existing laws, cause
injury to a human being or to another animal.

It is time irresponsible dog owners faced real consequences. For far too long,
a person whose dog(s) mauls someone is subject to insignificant penalties, such
as a fine or an order to confine or destroy them.

We believe in significant repercussions, both financial and criminal, to dog
owners who, in the opinion of a judge, could reasonably forsee the occurrence
of an injury based on the previous behaviour or previous multiple infractions
of existing laws.

We suggest the implementation of the thirty-six recommendations from the inquest
into the 1998 death of eight-year-old Courtney Trempe of Stouffville, Ontario.

We suggest the province implement the recommendations from the inquest into the
2003 death of four-year-old James Waddell of New Brunswick.

We suggest that, as soon as possible, the province implement the recommendations
from the "Community Approach to Dog Bite Prevention" report by the American Veterinary
Medical Association's Task Force on Canine Aggression.

You also may not be aware that breed-specific legislation has been rejected by
every major dog organization in North America. Most of which have boards and memberships
filled with people whose lives have been dedicated to understanding dog behaviour,
have publicly stated that they do NOT support breed-specific legislation and that
they do NOT believe that it works.